Endowed Chair Honors Inspirational Teacher

Agnes C. Renner's passion for history and her appreciation for a world that seemed bigger then than it does now made an impression on John L. Butler '71 when he stepped into her Western Civilization class as a first-year St. Ambrose student.

More than 50 years later, following a distinguished career on the global economic stage, Butler joined his wife, Holly Herman, in honoring that inspirational educator with a $2.5 million charitable commitment to permanently endow the Agnes C. Renner Chair in History.

The significant gift joins a growing number of academic endowments at St. Ambrose. It annually will cover the salary and benefits of a history faculty member who will teach a reduced class schedule to accommodate scholarship research that ultimately will augment faculty knowledge for the benefit of students.

"Academic endowments position St. Ambrose for next-level success," Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, president of St. Ambrose, said at a September news conference to announce the impactful gift.

"Philanthropic support from our alumni affirms the value of a St. Ambrose education and experience."

Butler's impressive career included senior positions with the U.S. House Committee on Banking, Treasury Department, Federal Home Loan Bank Board, National Credit Union Administration, KPMG Peat Marwick and Lehman Brothers. It was a credit, he said to a teacher passionate about her work.

"Miss Renner cared about her students succeeding at St. Ambrose and beyond," he said. "Holly and I are very happy to support St. Ambrose University deservedly naming an academic chair in Miss Renner's honor."